Erick Erickson's Latest Sexist, Anti-Gay Comments Are Nothing New

Erick Erickson is receiving much attention this week for his remarks that female breadwinners conflict with "biology" and "the natural world" and are "tearing [society] apart." But Erickson's comments are nothing out of the ordinary for the Fox contributor - he has a long history of making sexist, homophobic, and otherwise inflammatory statements.

Erickson Denigrates Working Mothers, LBGT Community

Erickson: "Biology" And "Natural World" Are Evidence That Women Should Not Be Primary Breadwinners. Appearing on Lou Dobbs Tonight on May 29, Erickson lamented a Pew Research study which found mothers are the primary or sole breadwinner in a record 40 percent of all American households with minor children. Erickson claimed that "biology" and "the natural world" evidenced that men, not women, should play the "dominant role" as breadwinners, and asserted that people who defend female breadwinners are "anti-science." He said of female breadwinners:

When you look at biology, look at the natural world, the roles of a male and a female in society, and other animals, the male typically is the dominant role. The female, it's not antithesis, or it's not competing, it's a complementary role. We as people in a smart society have lost the ability to have complementary relationships in nuclear families, and it's tearing us apart. [Fox Business, Lou Dobbs Tonight, 5/29/13]

Erickson Doubled Down On Anti-Woman Remarks, Attacked Children Of Gay Couples. The day after his remarks on Fox Business, Erickson took to his conservative blog RedState.com and doubled-down on his belief that female breadwinners are unnatural. He attacked the children of single mothers and two-parent, homosexual families, writing:

Many feminist and emo lefties have their panties in a wad over my statements in the past 24 hours about families. I said, in a statement reflecting the view of three quarters of those surveyed in a Pew Research Center poll, that more women being the primary or sole breadwinners in families is harmful to raising children.

[...]

This does not mean the two-parent, heterosexual nuclear household will always work out for the best. But it does mean children in that environment will more often than not be more successful than children of single parents or gay parents. [RedState.com, 5/30/13]

Erickson: "I Understand That Some Women Believe They Can Have It All, And That's The Crux Of The Problem." On the May 30 edition of his WSB radio program The Erick Erickson Show, Erickson again defended his remarks and attacked children of gay households:

It is a fact that children in a two parent, heterosexual household tend to have a more stable upbringing and a better chance of success than those of single parents or gay parents. This is a fact. This is not to insult gay parents. This is not insult single parents. It's just a fact. And the, of the subset of children who are raised in a two-parent, nuclear, heterosexual household, children where the father is the one who is the leader of the family, or the breadwinner of the family, however you want to say it, tend to out-perform those where the mother is the primary provider of the family outside of the home. Those are the fact. All I have done is pointed them out.

[...]

I understand the reality that some moms are single moms not by their choice. And I understand that some women believe they can have it all, and that's the crux of the problem. I have to tell you, as a man, where women are told that men have so many more advantages in society, we can't have it all. Women, you can't have it all either. Life is a series of compromises and choices. [WSB, The Erick Erickson Show, 5/30/13]

Erickson Has A History Of Sexist Comments ...

Erickson Excused Rep. Todd Akin's "Legitimate Rape" Remarks. When Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) claimed it was "really rare" for victims of "legitimate rape" to become pregnant from assault, Erickson tweeted that the statement was "dumb," but that he would still support Akin in the Senate race:

Erickson Compared First Night Of Democratic National Convention To The "Vagina Monologues." Referring to the first night of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, during which first lady Michelle Obama and other women leaders appeared, Erickson tweeted, "First night of the Vagina Monologues in Charlotte going as expected":

Erickson: "Who Cares That" Woman Wasn't Given Augusta Membership? "She's A Woman" And "Women Aren't Allowed." In response to controversy over the female IBM CEO being denied admittance to the Augusta National Golf Club, Erickson said on a April 2012 edition of his radio program, "Who cares that she wasn't invited into the club? She's a woman. Women aren't allowed." [WSB, The Erick Erickson Show, 4/6/12, via Media Matters]

Erickson: National Association Of Women Are "The NAG Gang ... The Angry Ones. Angry In Their Unibrows." On his radio show in April 2012, Erickson parroted Rush Limbaugh's smear of the National Association of Women, calling the organization, "The NAG gang, as the godfather of radio Rush Limbaugh would call them, the National Association of Gals. They are the angry ones. Angry in their unibrows, I believe it was once said." [WSB, The Erick Erickson Show, 4/2/12, via Media Matters]

Erickson On Obama's Libya Strategy: "What Is It With Barack Obama Caving To The Women." On his radio program in March 2011, Erickson attacked what he called "women drivers" in the Obama administration, claiming that "back-seat driving by the women" will "get Barack Obama lost." Erickson, referring to President Obama's stance on Libya, continued: "What is it with Barack Obama caving to the women? I mean, now we know who rules his personal life. I guess Michelle is firmly in charge as well, if Barack Obama is going to cave that easy to three women in his administration over what to do with Libya." [WSB, The Erick Erickson Show, 3/21/11, via Media Matters]

Erickson Repeatedly Attacked Feminists As "Too Ugly To Get A Date" With "No Sense Of Humor." On his Twitter account, Erickson has made numerous attacks on women. After an anti-abortion ad aired during the 2010 Super Bowl, Erickson tweeted, "that's it?!?! That's what the feminazis were enraged over? Seriously?!? Wow. That's what being too ugly to get a date does to your brain." Another tweet read, "Thus ends the credibility of all pro-abortion groups. Thanks Mrs. Tebow for that. Ugly feminists return to their kitchens." The next day, Erickson wrote, "Turned on twitter today and there was a barrage of angry feminists upset with me telling them to get in the kitchen and learn to cook;" "Good thing I didn't suggest the feminists ... you know ... shave. They'd be at my house trying a post-birth abortion on me." Erickson also tweeted, "Feminists have no sense of humor, but clearly God did in creating feminists":

... And Homophobic Remarks ...

Erickson On Boy Scouts Ending Ban On Gay Scouts: "I Honestly Cannot See Me Now Enrolling My Son In The Scouts." After the Boy Scouts of America ended their ban on gay scouts in May 2013, Erickson tweeted:

Erickson: I'm Worried About My Son "Living In A Society That Doesn't Recognize [Homosexuality] As A Sin." In another tweet in response to the Boy Scouts ending their ban on gay scouts, Erickson asserted:

Erickson Agreed "With Every Word" Of Anti-Gay Sermon. In a January 11 Twitter post, Erickson wrote that he "agreed with every word" of a sermon from pastor Louis Giglio from the 1990s which Giglio advocated for "ex-gay" therapy. Giglio also called on Christians to "lovingly but firmly respond to the aggressive agenda" of gay activists, and compared homosexuality to an unwanted addiction. Giglio was slated to deliver the benediction and inaugural prayer at Obama's second-term inauguration, but withdrew after his views opposing same-sex marriage drew criticism. From Erickson's Twitter feed:

Erickson: Idea That Gay People Shouldn't Be Called "Gay" Because They "Have Nothing To Be Happy About" Is "Pretty Good." On his radio program in January 2011, Erickson praised a caller's statement that gays "have nothing to be happy about":

CALLER: I take exception with the word "gays." I call them "homosexuals." They have nothing to be happy about, in the sense that marriage is between a man and a woman. They produce children. Not a man and a man and not a woman and a woman. It's more than just Chick-fil-A here, Mr. Erickson. The homosexuals want to turn this country inside out and upside down. They--

ERICKSON: I'm still stuck on you not calling them gays because they have nothing to be happy about. That's actually pretty good. [WSB, The Erick Erickson Show, 1/31/11, via Media Matters]

Erickson Accused Obama Of Choosing To "Pervert God's Word." In a 2012 post on his RedState blog, Erickson attacked Obama's invocation of scripture at the National Prayer Breakfast as a "perversion" of the word of God, writing, "The President this week chose to pervert God's Word to make the case for a tax increase, but he also chose to ignore God's word on life and is ordering Christians, while he claims to be one, to violate their Christian conscience on abortion." [RedState.com, 2/5/12, via Media Matters]

Erickson: "Watching A Hippie Protester Get Tased Just Makes My Day." Discussing an Occupy Wall Street protest on his radio program, Erickson said that "watching a hippie protester get tased just makes my day. It is just made of awesome." [WSB, The Erick Erickson Show, 1/30/12, via Media Matters]

Erickson Endorsed Whites-Only Scholarship, Suggested Women Have Always Had Equal Opportunity. On the March 1, 2011 edition of CNN Newsroom, Erickson endorsed white-men-only scholarships provided by a Texas group called "Former Majority Association for Equality," saying, "If we're going to get rid of scholarships for African-Americans and get rid of scholarships for Hispanics and get rid of scholarships for Asians and get rid of scholarships for women, then let's get rid of the scholarships. But if we're not going to get rid of those, then let's keep this one." Erickson then suggested that women, Hispanics, and Asians have not been historically disadvantaged in America. [CNN, CNN Newsroom, 3/1/11, via Media Matters]

Erickson Equated Abortion With Holocaust. During a 2011 CNN appearance, Erickson equated abortion with the Holocaust, saying, "I think the Holocaust of the millions of children killed in this country is pretty equal to [slavery]." [CNN, John King USA, 1/20/11, via Media Matters]

Erickson Likened Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist To A Child Molester. On Twitter in August 2010, Erickson likened former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to a child molester, writing, "We know what Rubio's truck looks like. Is this Crist's?" For Crist's truck (according to Erickson), he linked to an image of a van with the words "free candy" written on the side. [Twitter.com, 8/24/10, via Media Matters]

Erickson on Obama's Nobel Prize: "I Did Not Realize The Nobel Peace Prize Had An Affirmative Action Quota." Erickson began an October 2009 RedState post on Obama's Nobel Peace Prize with the words, "I did not realize the Nobel Peace Prize had an affirmative action quota for it, but that is the only thing I can think of for this news. There is no way Barack Obama earned it in the nominations period." [RedState.com, 10/9/09]

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